~ snails in art

(274) RMA SK-A-129

Paintings with slugs are rare, but — after the previous one — another example is in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. The oilpainting made by Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem (1562–1638), entitled “De zondeval” [Fall into sin], originated in 1592 in Haarlem [1, 2].

“In the background God (a cloud with a human face and hands) warns Adam and Eve. They may eat all fruits from the trees, except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Tempted by the serpent (with the upper body of a human) they eat the forbidden fruit anyway, after which they are expelled from Paradise” [1].

Among the animals seen, two slugs are situated on the ground near the feet of Adam, one directed away from the viewer (on Adam’s right-hand side) and one directed towards the viewer (between Adam and Eve). Slugs are here associated with sin.